The Geography of the Puranas c6.89

c6.89

The chapters in this study have been arranged in the following order. The first chapter deals with the sources of the Purāṇas and attempts to clarify the earlier notions on which the Purāṇic geography is apparently based. The next chapter shows how the idea of the Purāṇic dwipas and oceans evolved in course of time and also deals with the extent of the Purāṇic 'world' and its different 'dwipas'. This is followed by a series of chapters on the regional geography of the Jambū Dwipa which occupies a prominant place in the Purāṇic geography. The topographical features of these regions, which could be identified, have been plotted and indicated on suitable maps to facilitate the study of their Purāṇic descriptions. The chapter on Bhāratavarṣa is not claimed to be comprehensive. It only deals with the essentials of its geography, so that it may be kept within reasonable limits and in order that the repetition of those geographical facts regarding this varṣa may be avoided about which there is little controversy and which are discussed in detail in the well-known works of foreign and Indian scholars. A list of these is appended at the end of the chapter on Bhāratavarṣa. However, a few maps of Bhārata, depicting all these facts, have been added to present them in a more definite and precise form and in a systematic manner.